Barry Wallace joins executives from across the country to represent the lodging sector.

Barry Wallace

“AH&LA now begins a new chapter, bringing together the entire industry under one national umbrella, focusing the association on proactive and effective advocacy, and allowing the industry to speak with one voice,” said AH&LA President/CEO Katherine Lugar.

Waikiki, Honolulu, Hawaii (PRWEB) February 27, 2014

The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) has elected Barry Wallace, executive vice president of hospitality services for Outrigger Enterprises Group, to its 2014 Board of Directors. Wallace will serve as a representative in the Brand segment. The new board of directors is comprised of top-level lodging executives representing the full scope of the lodging sector, including brands, owners and REITS, management companies, independents, and state associations.

“AH&LA now begins a new chapter, bringing together the entire industry under one national umbrella, focusing the association on proactive and effective advocacy, and allowing the industry to speak with one voice,” said AH&LA President/CEO Katherine Lugar. “We are thrilled that our new board is comprised of a dynamic group of senior industry leaders who will lead the AH&LA’s future strategic direction. I’m confident Barry will be a valuable contributor of the thought leadership and direction crucial to ensuring AH&LA and the industry are best-positioned to tackle the challenges and meet the objectives of the future.”

As executive vice president, hospitality services at Outrigger Enterprises Group, Wallace is responsible for all hospitality service operations for the company’s hotels, resorts and condominiums in the Outrigger portfolio in Hawaii and Guam. An active community member, Wallace has held multiple leadership positions in the industry. He is past chair of the Oahu Chapter of the Hawaii Lodging & Tourism Association, and has also served as its president. In addition, he actively supports the University of Hawaii and the Hawaii Pacific University Travel Industry Management programs. Wallace and the 2014 board of directors will play a key role in providing the thought leadership and guidance that AH&LA will use to deliver real value to hoteliers throughout the country.

Serving the hospitality industry for more than a century, the AH&LA is the sole national association representing all segments of the 1.8 million-employee U.S. lodging industry, including hotel owners, REITs, chains, franchisees, management companies, independent properties, state hotel associations, and industry suppliers. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., AH&LA provides focused advocacy, communications support, and educational resources for an industry generating $155.5 billion in annual sales from 4.9 million guestrooms.

About Outrigger Enterprises Group
Outrigger Enterprises Group is one of the largest and fastest growing privately held leisure lodging, retail and hospitality companies in the Asia-Pacific and Oceania regions and continues to expand its presence throughout the area. A family-owned company with 66 years of hospitality experience, Outrigger runs a highly-successful, multi-branded portfolio of hotels, condominiums and vacation resort properties, including Outrigger® Hotels and Resorts, OHANA® Hotels and Resorts, Embassy Suites®, Holiday Inn®, Best Western®, Wyndham Vacation Ownership® and Hilton Grand VacationsTM. Currently, Outrigger operates and/or has under development 46 properties with approximately 11,000 rooms located in Hawaii; Australia; Guam; Fiji; Bali; Thailand; Mauritius, Vietnam; and Hainan Island, China. Outrigger Enterprises Group also operates and develops hotel properties and hospitality-related retail and real estate opportunities for partners in Hawai‘i, the Pacific, and Asia. For on-line information, log on at http://www.outriggerenterprisesgroup.com and http://www.outrigger.com.